Seaton member faces top players

Seaton player Jon Underwood took part in the 25th Dorset rapidplay championship earlier in March, before coronavirus cancelled everything.

Despite many late withdrawals the field was still a strong one with three players rated over 200 headed by British top ten player and Grandmaster Matthew Turner. At the half way stage Jon was on 2.5/3, just half a point off the lead, but his next opponent was Harry Grieve (213). Jon managed to win a wild game with the black pieces, and so had to face Ian Thompson (208) in the fifth round, again with black. Another draw left him in overall second, but unfortunately his final round opponent was to be Matt Turner who was leading with 5/5.

Somehow Jon managed to defend a very awkward endgame, earning his first ever draw against a grandmaster in the process. It was only good enough for fourth place overall, but still the best performance of his chess career.